Castle Shima

Ready my knights for battle. They will ride with their king once more.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

I've Got Dues To Pay

It won't hurt at first. It's too hot, you see? The flame sears the nerve endings shut, killing them. You'll go into shock. And all you'll feel is... cold.
-- Castle from The Punisher

Its time to get ready for the big ride for the year. As part of the preparation for this event, I've been uploading more music to the mp3 player. The funny part is that I've been finding music that I had forgotten about because its been on the old player and I've been taking it for granted.

One of those forgotten songs happens to be this tune from Cake. The animation has always been been pretty good for a low budget video.

Sheep Go To Heaven by Cake


Now if I can only figure out whether or not I'll need a frigging parka for the ride, I'll be set.

Yeah, right.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Give Me A Second

A lifetime of training for just ten seconds.
-- Jesse Owens

Ever have those moments where you need some music for motivation? Whenever I ride, I have to play music. Otherwise I go absolutely mad with aggrevation. Its my bit of motivation.

Yesterday's battle with the wind lasted for 45 miles. Everything just hurt. Legs cramping. Lungs burning. The body screaming in pain, begging me to stop this craziness.

Then this song came on the player and it all just seemed to fit.

Gotta Get Thru This by Daniel Bedingfield


Then I realized I still had 44 miles to go. If I had the ability to breathe, I would have cursed at every car that passed by.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Increases In Workload

The thing is, Bob, it's not that I'm lazy. Its that I just don't care.
-- Peter from Office Space

Sometime laughter really is the best medicine, especially with everything we go thru at our jobs. I made the mistake of listening to Robert Schimmel at the work again.

Well, it really wasnt a mistake. NFSW so put the kids to bed.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Young At Heart

You can only be young once, but you can always be immature.
-- Dave Berry

Have you noticed that there have been alot of athletes in the news lately? Oregon University's running back LeGarrette Blount ruined his college career for punching another player. Serena Williams' tirade cost her the US Open and some credibility. Roger Federer's own outburst was so uncharcteristic. Several of the Ohio State alumni voiced their anger at Terrelle Pryor as the young quarterback showed his support for the returning Michael Vick.

If you think about it, this is not uncommon. Considering all the hockey dads, basketball moms, and football parents, is it no wonder this sort of thing becomes more and more prevelant?

Somewhere along the way, many of us have forgotten that sports is not only entertainment, but helps define the athletes, especially the young ones. After all, they are in it for the fun, the pure enjoyment. For the love of the game.

Time to let 'em play.

Celebrate Youth by H-Blockx


Hm, I may have to start playing golf.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Agitation

You're not so tough without your car, are you?
-- Phoebe from Kindergarten Cop

Venting is supposed to help release alot of that pent up anger so lets see if this works.

ANGRY RANT MODE ON
I really had no idea who James Martin is. As an American, I've never seen his tv shows or read any of his articles. Regardless, I still want to punch the wanker right in the face.

Martin writes luxary car reviews for a UK paper. Last Saturday, he published an online article where he not only does he discuss Tesla's electric car, Martin mentions how he hates cyclists. As part of this article, Martin describes in detail how he used the car's quiet drive to sneak up on a group of unsuspecting riders, honked the horn, and forced the cylists to crash into a hedge while he speed away.

Ha ha. Very funny motherfucker. That shite would have been real funny if someone got seriously hurt or killed, hm?

I know alot of this sounds self-rightous, but most road cyclists have known someone who had either gotten hurt or killed by something like this. A friend of mine was struck by a car and hospitalized for several weeks. Another one was dragged under a car for several feet due to a drunk driver.

Several years ago, a teenage cyclist was killed during a charity event when a speeding driver lost control of their car. She wasnt even riding at the time. She was just standing on a curb while waiting on her father to catch up.

Two months ago a triathelete was killed as he was struck and crashed into the car's windshield. While the rider was bleeding out, the drunk at the wheel continued to drive until a near-by officer forced him to stop.

People can have their opinions, but when someone blatently goes out of their way in order to harm someone else, then retribution is bound to follow.

In Martin's case, he has raised the ire of the international cycling community. Professional cyclists like Bradley Wiggins and Robbie McEwen have pretty called him out to say it their faces. I wouldnt doubt McEwen to knock the living hell out Martin.

The online paper that published the article ended up having to disable the comments section due to the sheer volume. Then they had to remove the paragraphs where Martin gleefully describes the damage he caused. The car company, Tesla, refuses to even use the article as any sort of promotion and are distancing themselves as far as possible.

Martin has offered some half-assed apology for his comments, but he still has to pay for his actions. Police are asking for the group that were forced off the road to come forward. I dont know if anything could really be done. It depends on what happened to the riders.

We'll see what happens. Maybe they'll make the prat have to ride a bicycle during on-coming traffic.
ANGRY RANT MODE OFF

Lets see. Did writing that out help any?

Hm. No, I still want to stomp a mudhole on Martin.

What I really need to do is blow off some steam.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Nolite Umquam Oblivisci

Life gives us brief moments with another, but sometimes in those brief moments we get memories that last a life time.
-- Unknown

Do you remember where you were eight years ago? Some do. Some dont.

Its a fact of life that memories fade as time goes by. Today should not be one of those days that we trivialize. After all, tomorrow doesnt come for all of us. You never know what the day will bring you, even just a simple day at the office.

Tuesday Morning

These are the times of our lives. Never forget that.

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Wake The Flying Army

Yeah, those acts of God really stick it in and break it off, don't they?
-- Seth from From Dusk Til Dawn

When I first saw the trailer below, the first thing that flew thru my mind were the Prophecy movie series. But after thinking about it, the Hellblazer and Preacher books seemed more appropriate. Garth Ennis always had a way of combining religion and gore in some sort of thoughtful way.

Holy Councilman: This is about mankind's salvation.
Starr: This is about my genitals. Go on to extinction, holy men.

Ok, maybe he just fits my way of thinking. So is this.



Here's to hoping the movie will be as good as the trailer.

UPDATE: I had to change the video since Sony claimed rights to the R-rated version of the trailer. Grr!

Thursday, September 03, 2009

Next Time On Bizarre Foods

Frogs have it easy. They can eat what bugs them.
-- Unknown

Did you ever hear the story about the man that started drinking a Diet Pepsi and there was something in it? After gagging, the man saw the contents looked like pink linguini and some other dark stuff. He and his wife freaked out thinking there was a mouse inside.

Now Consumerist shows that there is an upside to this story: Good News! That Dead Mouse In Your Diet Pepsi Was Actually A Toad.

So of course I grossed out a few people from work about this. Me, I was laughing for abit about it. Yes its gross and disgusting, but it damn well reminded me of this original Monty Python skit.



Andrew Zimmern would be proud.